Breakwater



O. P. KUBACH Aug. 26, 1952 BREAKWATER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Sept. 6, 1947 A TT ORNEY O. P. KU BACH Aug. 26, l1952 BREW/(WATER 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1947 29119' es L11 2W H C, m mA R TB. O mK, A RM R.. A. C Y ,5w Ow.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 BREAKWATEB Ohio Application september e, 19in-serial No. 772,477

3 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to break- K waters. l

Breakwaters have heretofore been proposed for thel purpose of breaking the force of water adjacent exposed shore lines of lakes, oceans and other bodies of water, and to the erosion of such shore lines. In most cases, however, the breakwaters are of extremely complicated and expensive construction, difficult to install or assemble, and maintain, and usually ineffective or only moderately effective for theirintended purposes.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a breakwater or sea wall consisting of units which are of relatively simple and inexprevent or minimize assembling-the units of the breakwater with each other.;V l

Fig. 8 is aview similar to Fig. 3, but showing an adjustment of the lower portion of a unit ofthe breakwater to accommodate the unit toa sloping beach or bottom;

Fig. 9fis a fragmentary View, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a-modied form 0f unit; .Fig-..10 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 2, but showing a breakwater comprising the units of Fig. 9, and

pensive construction, which can be easily and 1f quickly assembled and interlocked with each other with a minimum of handling equipment and fastening or securing devices, and which is extremely eiective and eiicient for its intended purposes. y

"Another-object of the invention is to provide a breakwater of the character described, which is effective to permit water to circulate therethrough in opposite directions, vthereby preventing the formation of undesirablestagnant bodies of water or lagoons behind or withinthe breakwater.

A further object of the invention is to provide a breakwater of the character described, which is effective to permit ice which has accumulated therein to free .itself from the break- Water in an extremely simple and efficient manner, whereby the blocking up ofpassages through the breakwater for long periods is avoided.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the followingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout e the same.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan View of a breakwater embodying the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view,

ofthe breakwater;

vFig. 3 is an elevational View of one side of a unit of the breakwater;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the first step in assembling the units of the breakwater with each other;

Fig. 1l` is a fragmentary cross-sectional View, taken on the line I I-I I of Fig. 10.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to A8 inclusive of the drawing, the breakwater will be seen to comprise a multiplicity of units I, which are assembled in interlocked relation to form a substantially rigid, unitary wall, which may be of any desired length.

In actual use, the breakwater is usually erected substantially parallel to theshore line of the lake or other body or water, and at a distance of 200 to 300 feet from the shore line or beach, and preferably in such a manner that two to three feet of the upper part of the breakwater project above the water level. It is to be under- Stood, however, that in some cases, the breakwater may vextend at right angles to the shore line. or at any other desired angle'to the shore line.

Where the breakwater is substantially parallel to the shore line, its ends may be curved to extend inwardly towards or to the shore line, but in any'case, it is desirable to provide finished ends for the breakwater, in the form of units of special construction, such as shown at 2 in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, these end units being interlocked with the other units in the same manner that the units I are interlocked with each other.

Each unitA consists of an upper section 3 and a lower section 4', each section being molded or formed of concrete, which is preferably substantially reinforced, as by means of suitable steel beams, rods, or other metallic members conventionally employed for this purpose, but not shown.

The upper section 3 of the unit I comprises a vertical body portionof substantial height and 'Fig'. 7 `is a view showing the second step in thickness, having a flat kupper end 5, a flat bottom 6, an inclined or sloping front wall 1, a similarly inclined or sloping rear wall 8, an end wall y 9. and an end wall 'IIL The end wall 9 is sub- 'Fig. 5 is a top plan View ofthe unit shown in Stantally al. being dispOSed at Substantially right angles to the end 5 and bottom 6. The end Wall I0, however, consists of surfaces which are inclined with relation to the end wall 9, for a purpose to be presently explained.

UNITED" STATES PATENT. OFFICE face I2 of the rib is inclined to the wall 9, asA

clearly shown in Fig. 4. Extending from the wall I0, in spaced relation to the end wall 5 of the section 3, is a ribv I3,

4 installed and facilitates movement of the latter unit to the position shown in Fig. 7.

After the rib I3 of the unit at the left of F18. '1 has been moved below the rib I I of the installed uni/t, the unit at the left is'v rocked toward the inestalledunit, land into vertical position, as best shown in Fig. 2. The inclined surfaces I2 and I4 v"of the respective ribs facilitate such movement,

the upper surface I4 of which is substantially parallel with the surface I2 of the rib Il,.and

the lower surface of which is substantially par'- Y allel with the upper surface of the rib II, The rib I3, like the rib II, extends from the front wall 1 of the section 3 to the rear wall 8 of the section, and is also formed integrally with the section 3.

The section 3 of the unit further includes a rib I5, which is formed integrally with the section, and extends downwardly from the bottom Bof the section, this rib terminating short of the walls 1 ands and having inclined ends IGand, I1, and aninclined wall I8. Y i

The lower section 4 of the unit I comprises a vertical body portion of substantially less height than the body portion of the section 3, but of substantially the same thicknessastheV latter.

It has an upper end I9 which, is inclined to the wall 9 of the section 3, a flat bottom 20, anv inclined or sloping front wall 2l, whichris substantially flush with the Awall 1, an inclined or sloping rear wall 22, which is substantially flush with the wall 8, an end wall 23, and an end wall 24. The-end wall 24 is substantially flat, being disposed in abutmentwith the end wall 8 of the section 3. The end wall 23, however,consists of surfaces which are inclined with relation to the end wall 23, since they must conform with the wall In of the section 3, when the units are assembled inthe manner to be presently described. Extending from'the wall 23, adjacent the lower end of the section 4 is a base portionv 25, formed integrally with the section 4, and extending from I ythe frontiwall 2I to the rear wall 22 of the 'section 4', being provided with vertical surfaces'at the ends' thereof. This base portion 25 of the section 4 has a recess 26 in its upper portion, adapted forthe reception of the rib I5, and having a wall 21 which is sloped to correspond tothe inclination of thewall I8 of the rib I5, and end surfaces 28 and 29 whichare inclined to correspond with the inclination'of the ends I6 and I1 ofthe rib I5.

"Prior to assembling the units to 'form' the breakwater, the sections 3 and V4 of each unit are rigidly connected to each other by m'eans'of' rods 30v whichuextend through the sections, and have nuts 3I secured to the threaded ends'A thereof, these nuts being counter=sunk in the sections, so that they do not project from the'sections.

" The manner in which the units are assembled with each other toform'a breakwateris best shown in Figs.A 6 and '1. Referring vto Fig. 6, it

will be assumedtnat the unit at the right of this figure is already in situ, withjthebottomlll of the section 4 resting on-the water bottomyf- The unit at the left of this figure is' thenbrough tv to the position shown, at an inclinationV to the in-f stalled unit, and then brought'to the position L shown in Fig. '7, the ribv I5jbeing inserted infthe recess26 of the installed unit. The-inclination of the surfaces I8 and21 facilitates insertion'of the rib l5 in the recess 26. The inclined surface I9 of the installed unit provides -a temporary 'f supporting surface for the unit whichis being the surface I2 exerting a downward pressure on the surface I3 to force the rib I5 into the recess 26.

It will be noted that the units, as thus assembled, are interlocked with each other and against separation from each other in any horizontal direction, by virtue of the coaction of the ribs I5 and recesses 26, as well as by the interlocking of the inclined walls I0 and 23. In order to avoid any 'possibility of separation in a vertical direction, headed bolts 32 and nuts 33 are employed interconnect the ribs I3 with the ribs I I. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Theend units 2 are assembled with the units Lina-manner similar to that in which the units I are'assembled with each other, as will be readily apparent in Figs. 1 and 2. l

The breakwater, as thus formed, has a sloping front -wall consisting of the surfaces 1V and 2|, which sloping wall is effective to break thelforce tar-impact' of waves striking the breakwatensuch "waves rolling over the sloping front wall, overr the at top of the breakwater and then over the ,sloping rear wall of the breakwater consisting of the surfaces 8 and 22. In this way, the life of the breakwater is preserved indefinitely, and sand and other debris carried by the waves is deposited on the inland side of the breakwater, thereby filling in the lagoon orl body of water between the breakwater and the shore line. l

' It Amay be noted that spaced passages are formed through the breakwater between the units thereof, which passages extend entirely through ,thefbr'eakwater, permitting lwater t9` circulate therethrough in opposite directions, thereby preventing the vformation of undesirable stagnant bodies ofA water or lagoons behind or within the breakwater.

4Referring further to these passageways, it will be ,noted thatvthe walls I0 and 9 which form the sides` of these passages, form outwardly-opening wedge-like spaces, so that any ice which forms or accumulates in these spaces in winter can readily freeitself. from.v the breakwater in an extremely simple.- and efficient manner, thereby avoiding blcckinglup of such passages for long periods. Y. It will beappar'ent that the unitsforming ithe breakwater are of relatively simple and inexpensive' construction. and can be easily and quickly assembled and interlocked with each other, with afrninimu'm vof handling equipment and'fastening or securing devices. 'A '-AReferringtoFigsz and 3, it will be noted that a series'lof vertical openings are provided through the' sections of each unit for the rods 30 which are `used to connect the sections to each other. This arrangement of openings permits vertical adjust4` ment of the section 4 relatively to the section 3 prior to installation, in cases where itis neces-` sary to increase the height of theunit.

4Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that `several of the openings through which the rods 3U extend are elongated in a direction transverse to 'the length of the openings. This permits adjustment fof the section relatively to the section 3 in the manner 'clearly shown in this figure/to meet a condition in which the water bottom is inclined to the upper surface of the unit.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, there is illustrated a modification of the invention, in which the sections 3 of each unit are provided with flanges 3d formed integrally with the section and adapted to cover or block the passages through the breakwater. In some cases, it is de Ysirable to block one or both ends of these passages to prevent circulation of water through the breakwater. It will be observed, in Fig. 9, that the front surface of the flange 34 is flush with the surfaces 'l and 2| of the units.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a breakwater of the character described, a multiplicity of units in end to end arrangement with each other, each unit having a rib adjacent its upper end extending in one direction therefrom and a rib adjacent its upper end extending in the opposite direction therefrom and oiset vertically from the rst rib, a rib extending downwardly from the lower end of the unit, a dependent laterally extending projection at one side of the lower end of the unit having a groovey in the upper face thereof, the rst named rib of each unit coasting with the second-named rib of an adjacent unit, for preventing separation of the units from each other in a vetrical direction, and the third-named rib of each unit coacting with the groove of an adjacent unit for preventing separation of the units from each other in a horizontal direction.

2. A breakwater, as defined in claim l, in which fastening means are provided for connecting the rst-named rib of each unit to the second-named rib of the adjacent unit.

3. A breakwater unit of the character described, said unit comprising a body portion, a rib adjacent the upper end of said body portion extending in one direction from said body portion, a second rib adjacent the upper end of said body portion extending in the opposite direction from said body portion and offset vertically from the rst rib, a third rib extending downwardly from the lower end of said body portion, and a dependent laterally extending projection at one side of the lower end of said body portion having a groove in the upper face thereof.

OSCAR P. KUBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,893,903 Schlueter Jan. 3, 1933 1,948,639 Youngberg Feb. 27, 1934. 2,159,685 Brezzell May 23, 1939 2,301,592 Teuber Nov. 10, 1942 

